She tugged her hands out of his to grab his shirt and pull him closer. She kissed him hard until she ran out of air. “There are two things I have to tell you.”

“I’m listening.”

“One is that I have bad news. I love you, too. I’m sorry I didn’t say it to you sooner.”

He nodded a little, like it was something he’d already known. Any other time, that would have earned him a right hook.

“Two is that you smell like a sewer.”

He cocked one brow. “Considering I spent all day hiding out there—”

“You need a shower.” She grabbed his hand and pulled him up. “I happen to have one in my bedroom.”

His eyes went silver. “Are you inviting me up to your room, Ms. Lapointe?”

She was about to respond when a light went on in the kitchen, catching her eye. “Would you mind if we kept this to ourselves for a little bit? I’m not ready to share you.”

He squeezed her hand. “I had no intention of inviting anyone to join us.”

“I mean about you not being dead.” She scooped the invitation off the chaise and wiggled it between her fingers. “There’s a lot to be said for the element of surprise.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

Lola stood in her master bath, staring at the ugly red marks on her neck. The reminder of her inability to control what was happening in her city. How was she going to manage it if she couldn’t find a vampire willing to turn her? And worse, how would she ever get a chance to get Mariela back from her vampire captors without that kind of power?

Her fingers probed the punctures, testing the soreness. Dominic thought he’d scared her away from her desire to become a vampire. Did he understand now how wrong he’d been? Did he also know he’d caused her to issue the statement that had put Malkolm to death? She knew how harsh an action it was, but the remaining councilmen had supported her. They were as afraid of what was happening in the city as she was. And now both the humans and the othernatural citizens would know she was serious about keeping order.

His death hadn’t been the show she’d expected, though. No fire or burst of flames. Not even a shower of ash. Just a disappointing puff of smoke.

Her fingers fell away from her neck. Dominic was also wrong if he thought her desire to be turned had vanished with his visit. If anything, he’d shown her just how necessary the transformation was. She’d be ready now, stronger. When the dark pull of death came, she’d welcome it, knowing it wasn’t the end but a rebirth into the life that would solve all her problems. Being transformed would give her the power she lacked as a human and make it possible for her to raise her grandchild to the fullest of her potential.

A knock sounded at her bedroom door. “Ma’am?” Hilda.

“Just a moment.” Lola retied the scarf she’d worn around her neck all day to cover what Dominic had done; then she opened the door. “Yes?”

“Dinner is ready. Also, Mr. Luke and Mr. John have arrived. I took them to your office to wait.”

“Thank you. I’ll speak with them, then come to dinner.” After Dominic’s visit, she had a few security questions for the shifter brothers. Like how a vampire got into her house without anyone knowing about it. What was she paying them for if not to protect her from situations exactly like that? The more she’d replayed his visit in her mind, the angrier she’d become.

Hilda nodded and left, but Lola kept the door open, pausing to give herself one last glimpse in the entrance mirror before she left. Dark smudges under her eyes betrayed how tired she was, but there would be time for sleep soon enough. Or better yet, less need for sleep once she was turned.

John and Luke rose as she entered her office. Both looked ill at ease. Maybe they already knew someone had been in the house? She waved a hand. “Sit.” She was going to reprimand them, but no need for them to stand at attention. She took the chair behind her desk, moved a stack of mail to the side, then planted her clasped hands in the center of it. “Thank you for coming. There’s a very serious matter I need to discuss with you.”

The two men looked at each other, both starting to speak at the same time. John gave the floor to his brother.

Luke cleared his throat. “We have something we need to discuss with you as well.”

She raised her brows and glanced at John, but his eyes were on his brother. Her suspicions that they knew about the security breach grew. They must be here to apologize. She sat back. “By all means, you go first.”

Again the two varcolai exchanged a look; then Luke continued to speak. “In light of everything that’s happened in the last few days, we can no longer continue working for you.”

Shock coursed through her system. “What?”

Luke sat forward, glimmers of anger in his eyes. “Your administration has made it very clear that our kind aren’t welcome.”

“That’s absolutely not true. I’ve made special exceptions for those othernaturals who work in any kind of government service.”

He snorted. “So if the city benefits from us, that’s okay, but if we’re just ordinary citizens, we’re to be treated like enemy number one.”

Indignation straightened her spine. “My main priority is doing what’s best for this city.” She stabbed her finger onto the desktop. “It always has been and it always will be.”

“Just not for any citizen who’s a shade outside of human.” Luke shook his head and stood. “I’m done.”